Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I got one i bought from Age of Aquariums ....never used...yours for a box of Emu Bitter if you like... I wanted it .....but really don't need it

Do people find that they need a refractometer? How often do you need to test your water?

I got one cos i could its only been used 4 times in 2 years

When I first started this adventure of aquaponics I tested all the time for ph ammonia etc but really once your cycled I dont think there is a need unless you see a change in the fish.

Todays water test results
temp -- 16C
ammonia - between 1 and 2
Nitrite - .25
pH 8
I am going to do a slow water change now and add some salt. The fish seem to be happy and I have only lost one due to it jumping out of the tank on the first day. The plants are growing taller but are not growing many new leaves. something has been nibbling on the lettuce...hopefully I'll catch it soon

Test results today
temp 16C
NH3 between 1 and 2
NO2 .50
Nitrate - 0

the level of ammonia has not come down very much from yesterdays water change. I did not feed the fish at all yesterday. How long does it usually take for your ammonia levels to start to drop?

Should I feed the fish today? They seem so little to be starving them

I put two kilos of salt into the sump tank.

I haven't tested the water in two years. The bigger the water mass the more stable it is. You will get past this. It gets more fun.

Try to resist feeding till you see the ammonia level come down and then keep the feeding very minimal till the nitrite comes down because as your ammonia level drops the nitrite will spike. The salt will help protect the fish from nitrite but you still want to avoid exposing the fish to high levels of either ammonia or nitrite for very long.
Patients.

The water results for today
Ph - 8
temp 18C
ammonia - 1
nitrite - 1
nitrate - 5
the fish are not very happy at all. I think they are 'flashing'. they keep on swimming to the bottom and then showing their tummy before swimming off. I have changed about 20% of the water. I will not feed them at all today. How long can they go without food til they start to suffer?

My water still looks really clear. I've heard that the water goes green at some stage. If your tank is covered does this still happen?

I think I will test the ammonia level again and if it is high I will change out more water.

Sarah,

Salt: It will make your fish much happier, but too much will damage plants. You can just estimate it: most of your plants will be fine with 3ppt and your trout would really prefer it right now, so don't worry if you get a bit higher than 1ppt. I got a refractometer to test salt since plants take it out, but haven't gotten around to using it yet...

My advice always is "Get some filter gunk from anyone who has some to spare..NOW!" It is much, much faster for cycling and may save your fish from the toxicity. Risk: some risk of disease if koi have something. You started with some AP water....not enough to start off cycled, but a good start.... But it might really help if you were to add some more bacteria from the koi.

A covered tank will reduce or eliminate algal growth to the extent that light is reduced or eliminated.

Good luck. Keep up the good work.

thanks hydrophilia. I have added two kilos of salt to the system yesterday. I ended up doing two water changes today. Around 20% this morning and another 20% in the afternoon. Unfortunately it hasn't seemed to change my ammonia levels. I still haven't fed the fish. Hopefully I will start to see some of the levels go down. My Dad is dropping of around two litres of 'gunk' from his Koi pond tomorrow.

Do you think this will be enough? I can get as much as I want.

I might add more salt tomorrow. I added two kilos a week ago and then accidently drained 80% of the tank. Topped up with another two kilos yesterday....another 40% water change....I guess I will just add one kilo tomorrow???? I think the fish look a bit happier. Still flashing but not as much. Unfortunately I am going away for the day tomorrow, hopefully they will be okay.

I understand the temptation to do water changes,
however I feel that when the ammo spikes, it does this to trigger the
ammo eating nitrite producing bacteria(if seeded) etc etc...
...though when we do a water change we force
the ammo to again rise to engage the trigger.

Though neither are wrong, saving your fish becomes a priority.

I figure starting a new system with a standard fishload and expecting it to work in an instant,
could be a little challenging.

The first month is the trickiest and becomes easier from there, to the point
you will smell an increase in Ammo and make adjustment(s) ..ie reduce feed, increase bed density, increase beds,
increase heavier feeders etc. then you can increase feeding
Sorry for the rant.

Hang in there, cycling with fish is often stressful for you and the fish. You have to let the ammonia get up to get the bacteria going but you don't want it to get too high as that will kill fish and also inhibit the bacteria. Same with Nitrite and often the nitrite spike is harder to get past and even harder on the fish though salt can at least help with that part of it.
Patients. Remember fish can go hungry quite a bit before they suffer from it.

I'd guess that amt of gunk will be plenty. Just dump it into the growbed where the water runs in. You should see results within 24 hrs, I would guess. The bacteria die fast, I've heard, so get them into the gb soon!

I figure your entire sytem has over 3000liters of water, so 1ppt=3kg of salt. For every liter of water you add, bung in another gram of salt. Two grams would make the fish even happier.

If you are going to change 40% of your system in a day, do it all at once, I think. You will need to add the same amt of salt, but while doing it 20%&20% gives you (.80*.80=.64) 64% of your ammonia remaining, doing it in one shot leaves only 60%.

thank you so much for all your advice. I think I am getting the hang of the basic concepts. There is so much to learn. This forum is great at giving advice!!! I really appreciate everyones help.